Chairman. this morning a press conference was called by cosponsors and supporters of CXIX- 1977Part 24 the Mills/Vanik/Jackson bill. This conference. plus the special order we are now holding and a series of 1 minute speeches. are all destined to make clear to the administration. and other concerned parties. that supporters of this legislation are holding firm. Granting mostfavorednation status to the Soviet Union must be accompanied by a guarantee of emigration rights to Soviet citizens. If there is one thing I am certain about. concerning the pending trade bills. is that there cannot be a compromise on this issue. Whether a private citizen or the leading Soviet scientist and academician. this right is basic to all men. including Soviet citizens. The Soviet Union pays specific lipservice to the right of free emigration. They are parties and signatories to the U.N. Declaration on Human Rights and the Human Rights Convention. which spells out certain rights that accrue to every human being. including freedom or emigration. Grave pronouncements issue from certain circles that achieving detente with the Soviet Union outweighs every other consideration. Certainly. continued and increased commercial exchanges with the Soviet Union are desirable. as are exchanges in scientific. and cultural matters.
Keywords matched
emigration